Two more US F-35 Sqns to the Lakenheath, UK

[JamesDC152]

Looks like two more F35 squadrons are coming over from the States in response to Russia/Ukraine. I assume both at Lakenheath? https://twitter.com/nickschifrin/status ... 0172452868

[markranger]

Christ, How would that work,

If full fighter wings of what 24 jets Lakenheath would have 160 odd jets.....

[cat1]

no more sleep for nearby residents!

[SCruttonStreet]

Who knows with any luck they will reopen Upper Heyford, Woodbridge, Bentwaters or Alconbury.

[NorvilleRogers]

Christ, How would that work,

If full fighter wings of what 24 jets Lakenheath would have 160 odd jets.....

Or they replace the two existing F-15E squadrons with more F-35A.

[roger4]

The 495th only has 13 F-35 delivered so far, and the 493rd just one, so the base is currently around 34 aircraft light of its intended total (assuming 24 aircraft per squadron). Hence, at least in the short term, Lakenheath should be able to absorb this deployment.

[slogen51]

Or as politicians often do claim existing commitments as new expenditure so might just mean the 493rd and 495th build up

Obviously hope I am wrong

[Nighthawke]

Who knows with any luck they will reopen Upper Heyford, Woodbridge, Bentwaters or Alconbury.

Well you can keep dreaming even if us local residents can't sleep

[Canberra TT.18]

Twitter says two F-35 squadrons.
Not version nor command.
Could also be 1 or 2 units F-35B to RAF Marham!?

[slogen51]

Or a wing in reserve at Fairford

[Plane enthuiast]

That would be good

[thevulcan]

Or a wing in reserve at Fairford

Was thinking this too new hangar facilities being built new accommodation being built. Over 700 service personnel being posted there. I believe these two squadrons will be additional as later on in the tweet it's states "two additional navy destroyers increasing from 4 to 6" therefore 2 additional squadrons would suggest 2 to 4. But maybe I'm applying logic too much

[markranger]

It does say Additional so 4 Fighter sqns of F35s, Can't see why the Strike eagles would be moved moved out.

Thanks

[Vulcanone]

Well I am sure some of the residents living in the new housing built on Alconbury will be all for that.

What's the state of Upper Heyford now.. ? Or Woodbridge which is the only one the MoD have actually used in the last 10 odd years....Bentwaters has a Jag as a last resort

[Mike]

Or using Ramstein & Spangdahlem as forward operating bases like they did with Bentwaters & Woodbridge A-10's to various German bases in the 70's & 80's?

[Vulcanone]

And by used. I refer to aircraft using the runways. RAF Atlas, Pilatus used it for some PC24 trials IIRC...

Sculthorpe....

[slogen51]

Already received a text mentioning Prestwick - everything else goes there so why not ?

[pg1610]

Whilst the USAF has the aircraft available , does it have the pilots ?, if they were to deploy on a rotational basis (as with F15Es over last few years) then the people at Hill/Eielson/Burlington would be very busy

My initial view was that they might be looking to build up the two Lakenheath squadrons in a much quicker time frame using a/c from Luke/Eglin (I know the topic of combat coded jets etc has been discussed, but the aircraft can still be used)

but again that throws the pilot situation into the mix

so possibly HL/AK/VT jets deploying for a few months whilst a rapid build of LN sqdns /pilots

the only issue with this plan is AK/HL jets also need to be available to deploy to the Asia Pacific region as well

as stated by Canberra TT.18 USN/USMC units could be used but I think its more about building the two LN sqdns to full strength in a much shorter time frame,

we will all have to wait and see

[STN RAMP RAT]

Or as politicians often do claim existing commitments as new expenditure so might just mean the 493rd and 495th build up

Obviously hope I am wrong

I wondered that as well, if it is additional jets then 160 ish aircraft reliant on a single runway seems to be a risk.

It’s not feasible to reopen any Cold War bases in my opinion, they would need an enormous amount of work and would be unlikely to be ready for aircraft for several years.

[Vulcanone]

Well I suspect Spangdahlem could get a reprieve?